Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: US Ambassador to Pakistan David Hale on Thursday said the United States supported Pakistan’s flourishing democracy and believed it to be on “solid basis” for stability and prosperity in the country. “We support vigorously Pakistan’s flourishing democracy. I cannot speak about past, but now we do believe in Pakistan’s democracy and we believe it on solid basis for stability and prosperity,” the US Ambassador said in an interview with a private television channel (Geo News) aired on Thursday night.

When asked if the United States fully supported democracy in Pakistan, David Hale said, “Yes we do.” Asked if the United States could support those who wanted to derail democracy in Pakistan, the US Ambassador categorically stated, “No. Not at all.” David Hale said since he came to Pakistan, he was learning every day and, “I am impressed how lively the politics are here in this country. We saw a peaceful transition from one elected government to another elected government (in Pakistan),” the US Ambassador mentioned and said he expected that the elections in the country would be held in 2018.

To a question about Pak-India relations, he said, the United States encourages the two countries to engage and resolve their issues through dialogue. Regarding human rights violations in the Indian Occupied Kashmir, David Hale said the United States was concerned over the loss of lives there and believed that Pakistan and India could resolve their differences through dialogue.

To a question about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said the United States welcomed the project and was supportive of any effort that brings about economic growth and development in Pakistan.

The ambassador also expressed his fondness of Pakistani fruits, specifically mangoes, as well as his eagerness to learn Urdu. Hale, who has earlier served in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon and some Middle Eastern states, can speak Arabic well.